Duck Hunting 2009 - Through #2 of 5's eyes.

Hmmm... It turns out that my kid has better timing that I do...  You see, tonight he asked me to print out a paper he typed up for English class.  As I printed out his paper, I started reading it.  As you can see here, he wrote up a summary of our duck hunting trip before I have. 

Below is a copy (exact.. Not a single change made) of his version of "Duck Hunting 2009"

Enjoy!

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Duck Hunting - 5th hour English

    Have you ever gone Duck hunting?  Well I have, and it was so fun that it was like taking the funest thing you have ever done and multiplying it by five.  Although it was a long drive to stay for three days.  We stayed at my Dads friends’ cabin.  By the end of this story you will know so much about the trip it’s almost as if you where their with my dad, me, and my dads friend all in a in the duck boat.

    First part about my trip you need to know about is the drive their.  Let me tell you without saying something ells that it was boring!  It unfortunately was an entire three and a half hour drive.   Although we had things in the cat to do, it all got boring after about two hours.  The ride got longer, and longer as if it would never ever end.  Finally about 9:00 pm we got their, and we where way to tired for our own good.

    The very next day my dads’ friend said “its chore day since the hunting opener is tomorrow.”  Just the thing I wanted to do today” I replied quite annoyed.  Then my Dad said “well nobody wants to do them but they have to be done.”  “Well no one wants to do them less than me I replied.  But he was right.  But chore day is a day at the cabin where if there is anything that needs to be done, for example wood cut for a fire.  No but their was plenty of wood, so we got the very wonderful job of taking down the metal dock that weighs about 200 pounds.  Finally we get it done and we could have fallen a sleep on the floor we where so tired.  It was good to get the dock job out of the way.

    After chore day we got up at 4:30 in the morning to get dressed for hunting.   We loaded up the boat and set off to find a good spot.  Boy was it cold driving the boat to the the spot.  You could feel the cold air rushing past you as you sat in the boat.  We finally find the perfect spot just around 6:00 after we set out all the decoys.  We sit their in the quiet, so quite that you can here your own brain more than you can here anything ells. It was around 7:00 when splash a wood duck landed right in my firing zone.  Then I picked up my gun and bang I killed the duck.  About 8:00 we headed in and I was the only one that got one.  Boy was I proud of myself.

    The last day we where their we went out the same time and where ready and waiting the same time.  Except this time I went with my dad’s friend and my dad went alone.  I didn’t see anything in my range, but my dads friend did and bang he got one two.  About an hour later at 8:00 we where about ready to pack up when bang bang. Two shots went off around where my dad was, and sure enough he got one as well.  We got in the boat, picked up the decoys and headed for where my dad was and we saw him holding a duck. We went in and packed up. We where going home.

    We packed up the car, and some how we all got in.  After checking the cabin and making sure it was locked we got in the car and…my dad lost the keys again.  We looked fore about 15 to 20 minutes when suddenly…he found them in his pocket.  Then my dad’s friend said ” you know what some things never change.”  “No they don’t I replied with a smile and got into the car as.  I took one last look at the cabin as we drove away. 

    This story means a lot to me because we only go up to the cabin once a year.  What means even more to me is that it showed me how to enjoy what nature has to offer.  Most people do not take the time to stop and think about what life really is.  I used to never enjoy nature because I didn’t think I hade than patients for it, but it turns out I do.  I Hope you enjoyed reading this story as much as I enjoyed telling it.

Duck Hunting - 2008

...as evening approached...

Duck Hunting - 2007

Saturday October 6 - Monday October 8th 2007.

This year's Duck hunt was what I would consider a real "wash out".

Due to an (unexplainable) lack of interest in hunting this year, an overall deficiency of and for motivation regarding all things hunting, and an already way to busy schedule, I was seriously debating on weather or not to hunt waterfowl this year. I decided I would get some “small game” hunting in (honestly, small game is some of my favorite hunting – Grouse and Squirrel top the list, and are some of my favorite delectable, delightful little delicacies! (Say that fast three times!)

My lack of interest caused me to spend nearly a week debating if I wanted to sit out the waterfowl portion of this weekend’s hunting activities. Also, because of Ed’s very busy schedule (and his “nesting project" for his new baby due in November) we had not planned for the trip like we usually do. I had no idea who was going up, what time we were arriving, and what the plans for food were going to be.

Because of a meeting at work, Ed was not going to be up at the cabin on Friday night (for the Saturday morning hunt) as planned. We were not going to be arriving until Saturday afternoon, which left Saturday evening, Sunday morning and Sunday evening. Three “hunts”. I had pretty much decided that I was going to pass on hunting waterfowl until Ed called me on Thursday night. We ironed out most of the details, and decided since Friday was a wash; we would stay up at the cabin for a Monday morning hunt. That made the deal a little more enticing.

It was not until the last possible moment (as I drove past our local post office) that I made the final decision to “go for it” and grab the Federal Stamp. I had not even spoken to Ed, and (as stated) did not have any formalized plans as of yet - but I felt I needed / deserved a weekend of waterfouling.

I got home, packed up my duck hunting gear (I have started a new "plan" where I keep most of my "duck hunting" stuff in one Rubbermaid bin, and my "deer hunting" gear in another. It makes packing up "significantly" easier.) After packing up my car, I headed up to the cabin. Since having only bought the Federal stamp, I knew I was going to have to still have to stop for the State stamp. As I left the house (around noon), I planned a quick stop at Wal-Mart to pick up a State stamp.

Once at Wal-Mart, I was behind two other guys who were in line to fulfill similar licensing requirements. The clerk behind the desk was relieving the "regular" sporting goods "team member", and due to his un-familiarity with selling Minnesota State Hunting Licenses (and other related items like Duck Stamps) along with his general struggle with speaking English, we will sum up this trip to Wal-Mart as a "hair pullingly frustrating" hour and fifteen minutes of my life. Thank goodness the guy ahead of me in line was a "like thinking" sort of fella, and so we passed the time with talk of hunting, guns, and our experiences with gunsmiths.

After (finally) getting my State stamp, I went to neatly tuck it in my wallet with my license, and my Federal stamp when I noticed something missing... My License and my Federal Stamp! I made a quick call home, confirming my nightmare that I did indeed leave them at home. I had to make the 15 minute trip BACK to my house from Wal-Mart to get the forgotten license and stamp, then turn back around and make the 15 minute trip back (passing Wal-Mart) as I finally made my way to meet Ed at his cabin. This little "oversight" added another two hours (total) to my trip. (Thank goodness for XM Radio and my radio buddays Ron & Fez.) I originally left my house at noon. I did not actually get "on the road" to the cabin until 2pm.

With a 2pm departure, I did not have an arrival time until almost 6pm. The trip did include a grocery stop in Aitkin, and much of the grocery shopping (that we normally do together) was done "together" on cellular telephones! Ed brought up the "meat", and I filled in the rest...

When I finally arrived at the cabin I discovered that it was going to be just myself and Ed this year! This was how the first few years of my introduction to duck hunting came about. Many years was spent with just Ed and I hunting together. After having a number of years with new friends join us, it was nice to have a “nostalgic” year of just Ed and I!

(Note: I realize that some of the newer friends I have made at “duck camp” read this blog. I want it known that I enjoy the new friends I have made over the years. This observation should not be construed in any way that I don’t like having others up there with us. It was just a nice sort of coincidence that it worked out this way! It “took me back” to days gone by.)

Since we were both famished, we started in on getting dinner done right away. Dinner consisted of two "gigantic" Porterhouse steaks (BBQ'ed to perfection - thanks to Ed), Bushes onion baked beans, bakery fresh olive oil / rosemary bread sticks, a six pack of Leinenkugel's "Oktoberfest" beers and some Dr. McGillicuddy's Vanilla Schnapps liquor for a bit of dessert . The hectic pace of the day (the stress of forgetting my license / stamp, running back and forth, trying to get to the cabin on time, stopping for groceries, etc...) was all washed away as we gluttonously savored this bountiful feast.

The remainder of the evening was spent cleaning up dinner, unpacking, some catching up, and finally a hard crash to the land of the sleeping.

We got an early start in the morning. We set up in the slew on the north shore of the lake before sunrise. It was warm... Unusually warm... The morning was around 70 degrees. The skies were overcast. There was very little activity in the air. We noticed a few small flocks of high flying ducks as the darkness of the early morning turned to the first light of dawn. I sat in the boat with Ed to my left, watching a slightly larger flock of ducks that were noticeably out of range on my right when I heard Ed whisper "Mark" (our term for "birds coming in, and I've got a visual on them"). I started wondering why Ed was going to even try taking shots at these birds, when I was startled out my curiosity by three loud blasts from Ed's gun.

Quickly looking back and forth trying to get my own "mark" on what Ed was shooting at, I saw flock of nearly a half dozen birds buzz our decoys. They came in from Ed’s left and originally out of my line of sight (blocked by Ed). By the time I shouldered my "cannon" and got a bead on the now distant birds - I decided they were too far for an effective and responsible kill shot, so I watched them fly away down the barrel of my gun. As the ringing subsided in my ears, I could hear the sarcastic banter of “Mr. Smart Ass” (oops... I mean Ed) as he stammered "I could have used a little bit of help there"...

(Reminder to self: Ed’s sarcastic remark was seemingly more a result of his frustration with himself over his bad shooting than it was with my complete oblivion to what had just happened)

Well, with the first bit of excitement of the day past us, we settled back down into the boat, and resumed our vigilant observation of the fall skies. As morning progressed (with nothing more in sight) we kicked back a bit, and started to relax a little. We lit up a couple of morning Backwoods cigars, and just started enjoying the day. Unexpectedly and out of NOWHERE a single teal flew in. It flew perpendicular to us (straight in at our 12 o'clock), and landed in the middle of our decoy spread. Simultaneously, we both looked at each other in complete disbelief. Ed whispered "Take it, it's yours", so I very gingerly set the cigar down on the boat seat, shouldered my behemoth of a gun, put a bead on the duck, and slowly stood up from the seated position. I had a bead on the teal before it even noticed me. I took my shot (completely strafing the decoys) as soon as it saw me it started to take off, dropping the duck. After a short time of watching it struggle in the water I placed my second "kill shot".

We hunkered down for a few more minutes (in case the sound of the shots rousted any other birds), and after not seeing anything, and because some morning "sprinkles" started to fall, we pulled out of our hidey-hole, gathered the decoys, the downed teal and headed back to the cabin for the morning.

When we arrived at the cabin and brought up our gear, we decided that our Backwoods cigars would not be enough for breakfast, so we dug into the groceries and got to the business of whipping up a quick little late breakfast / early lunch that consisted of thick sliced bacon (and I mean THICK), eggs, hash browns, toast, milk and orange juice.

After gorging ourselves on breakfast, we decided the best way to work it off was a "grouse / squirrel hunting" walk up the ridge along the lakeshore. It was still overcast and damp out, but the morning "sprinkles" had subsided. It was a nice walk. By the time we reached the end of the trail, and had walked back to the cabin, we had flushed up two grouse.

(Note: "Flushed up" does not mean we got a shot off at them, or even "saw" them for that matter...)

Since it was still not raining, and we had walked a large portion of the property, we decided it was time to walk some of the other nearby logging trails, and miscellaneous roads. We got into Ed's truck and drove to a local "Minimum Maintenance Road". Before we even arrived the morning "sprinkles" had returned, and developed into full blown afternoon "showers". Not really inclined to get soaked, we parked the truck and fell asleep while waiting out the rain.

We later woke to find the afternoon showers had subsided, and so we got out of the truck and started up the first of two long trails. After walking both the "Minimum Maintenance Roads" flushing 3 more grouse, we took a walk down the "Thompson Trail" (an old logging road), and saw nothing.

(I later realized this would end this fall's "grouse / squirrel hunting" season with a total of five flushed birds, and zero in the "game bag".)

By this time we were both getting tired, and hungry. We headed back to the cabin, starting in on preparing the evening feast. When the dust settled, we sat down and enjoyed an evening of Bratwurst (with onions), left over Bushes onion baked beans, more (now day-old) bakery fresh olive oil / rosemary bread sticks, and a few more Leinenkugel's "Oktoberfest" beers.

Planning on an "early" bedtime, it was around 8:30 when we started bunking down... that was until we discovered a possible mouse hideout. As we started investigating the possibility of a mouse infestation, our first discovery was of two live mice under the Ed’s bunk. The first of the two mice got away, while the second met an untimely disembowelment by the heel of Ed's boot. The box spring area of Ed's bunk had indeed become their home. After cleaning the box spring of any/all foreign nesting material, a pile of D-Con they had dragged into the bunk, and one previously deceased mouse, we moved our focus to the "built in" storage bins that line the wall (between the two bunks). We found evidence of mouse activity in these as well. And as we reached the end of the row of built in storage boxes, we hit my bunk. There was some (but very little) evidence that a mouse (or mice) had been in this bunk, but it was to a pretty limited extent. After a lot of cleaning and repairing (covering and plugging the holes where we felt the mice were moving through) we finally made it to bed.

When we did finally get to bed and achieved "lights out", we fell asleep to a full fledged thunderstorm. This was significant (to me) because of all the years I have been a guest at Ed's cabin, this was the first thunderstorm I experienced there. I am a big fan of thunderstorms, and this one was memorable as the "first" at Ed's cabin, but also because of the sheer darkness and utter and complete silence normally experienced at the cabin.

I awoke 30 minutes prior to the alarm sounding. It was pouring rain, and there was a "heavy fog" that significantly limited visibility. A quick "conference" with Ed resulted in the unanimous decision to forgo hunting, and "sleep in".

Our leisure morning culminated after sleeping in, and enjoying another hearty breakfast of thick sliced bacon (and I mean THICK), eggs, hash browns, toast, milk and orange juice over some relaxing and delightful conversation.

(That is the one thing that I miss most about Ed living in Duluth. We do keep up on the phone and the email, but nothing beats just sittin' down and shooting the breeze with an old friend over a meal, some drinks, or a cigar. This was one of the best mornings I have had in a very long time!)

After breakfast, with it still slightly foggy outside and the weather alternating between "damp" and "raining" we decided to call it a weekend. Ed was going to be staying longer than I was, so (because it is so much easier to get the boat in with two people (one on the ATV/Trailer - other in the boat)) we got the boat brought back to the cabin, cleaned, and stored away for the season. We cleaned up the cabin a bit. I packed my gear in the car, and we said our goodbyes.

I was on the road by 10:30 am, arriving home by 1:30. Because I was unable to make it out to the field anymore this year, this trip was the conclusion to my 2007 Duck / Squirrel / Grouse Hunting season.

(One last note I'd like to make. This trip was also the last of many trips to the cabin in my 1994 Teal Green Ford Escort. Just a week or so after this hunting trip, I made a “Road trip” to pick up my new (or new to me) 2000 Saturn SL1. Thanks to my Escort for many safe trips to and from Ed’s cabin over the years. I’m looking forward to a number of similar trips with the Saturn!)

Duck and Grouse Hunting - 1998

Now, remember folks, this was written nine years ago, and my second attempt at keeping a hunting journal. I found this entry (along with Fishing Trip - 1998) in my first hand-written hunting book. I copied it word for word - as is. I made not grmamatical changes (even though there were a few I felt I should have made).

I still may have one or two more stories from that book to type up and post here on the blog.

Enjoy.
David.

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Duck and Grouse Hunting
October 7-9 1998

We again made the pilgrimage to Ed’s cabin for duck hunting. This year we made it for the opener. Ed, Dave G, and I were in attendance.

The first day, Dave and I set up on the north end of the lake, behind the island and in the reeds. We saw a few ducks, but were unsuccessful in our hunt. Ed set up near the beaver dam, and got a couple of ducks. On the way back to the cabin, Ed discovered a problem with his outboard motor. It was running too warm, and the exhaust was full of steam. When we got back to the cabin, we ate breakfast, and then Dave began disassembling the outboard. When we hit the point where we could not find the problem, we took the outboard into Garrison for repair.

We spent the rest of the day grouse hunting. We saw and heard one grouse. Dave and I were unsuccessful. We also spent a lot of time hunting state grounds in the area. It felt like we had walked over a hundred miles, but we came up empty. The colors were so brilliant that to even try to describe them would not do them justice.

On the second day, having only one motor, the three of us ended up at the beaver dam. We saw nothing but beavers. After an unsuccessful morning, we returned to the cabin for breakfast and back to garrison to pick up the outboard. Later that afternoon, we spent more time grouse hunting, seeing and hearing about the same number of birds. We still came home empty handed.

It was the third and final day of the trip that proved to be most successful for me. Again the three of us set up at the beaver dam. Dave and I were in the center and Ed on the far west end of the dam. Ed called in a drake wood duck, but it would not come close enough for any of us to get a good shot off. It just swam around the bay watching our decoys from afar. Then, just as quick as we noticed it, it just stopped squeaking and disappeared. A couple of ducks flew by, and I managed to get one shot off, but did not drop the bird. Late in the morning, a big black crow flew by. Dave squeezed a shot off. He must have hit the crow. All we saw was “flap, flap, drop”, “flap, flap, drop”, “flap, flap, drop”… As the crow (unusually slow) made it’s way back to the wooded area just west of where we were hunting - about tree top height. Best as I could tell, the bird dropped through the canopy of the trees - never to be seen again. When we finally went in, we went grouse hunting again. We sure heard a lot more grouse this year, compared to most years. After yet another unsuccessful grouse hunt, we returned to the cabin. Later that afternoon, Dave and I went to walk the Little Thompson Trail. On the way down the trail, we ran into a hunter and his dog. He had a grouse in his hunting pouch. Well, I figured that we would into be able to find any birds after he had flushed anything out of the area. Dave and I walked until I could barley walk anymore. We stopped at a clearing and rested for a few minutes. After resting, we turned and headed back. At this point we were heading back to begin packing up and I remember being depressed about returning empty handed. Another year went by without any game to bring home. About a third of the way back, and guy in a pickup truck drove up the trail and stopped to visit. He claimed to have seen a bird up near the end of the trail. I remembered thinking that this pickup truck driving up the road just scared off our last opportunity to get a grouse this year. Just about two-thirds way back down the trail, I spotted a grouse sitting on a branch about one foot off the ground. (About 30 feet from me). Right away I put a bead on the bird, and slowly started walking towards the bird. It took off and started flying back into the woods, then BANG! I don’t remember seeing the bird drop. Dave told me that I did drop the grouse, so I went into the woods. I located the bird. MY FIRST GROUSE! I was so happy, but at the same time I felt slightly bad. I know just how bad Dave had wanted a grouse also. We made to the end of the trail, and then headed back to the cabin.

When we got back, Ed was gone. I had figured that he had gone grouse hunting on the ridge on their land. Dave laid down, and I began packing things up. We did hear shots off in the distance. It was not too much longer when Ed came back. Ed had gotten three grey squirrels. Ed took Dave and I back into the woods, were I cleaned my first grouse, and John (Ed’s Dad) cleaned the other grouse and the three squirrels.

By the time Dave, Ed and I had our things packed up; John was ready to cook up the game. We sat down and had “snacks” for the road home. This was my first taste of squirrel, and the second time I have had grouse. I was very delicious! I would (without a doubt) eat both again (and I look forward to doing so.)

Duck Hunting 2006

This year (thanks to the generosity of my friend Ed, and his family) I again got to go duck hunting at their cabin in northern Crow Wing County.

The original plan was to leave Friday night (September 29th), and return Monday night (October 2nd), but because of a training seminar that came up at work, my plans needed to change, and I had to leave on Saturday Morning (September 30th) instead. That was ok because we were not planning on going out Saturday morning (Legal hunting hours do not begin until 9am on opening day anyway). We were going to spend the day doing some of the "chores" that we do each year - hauling (and cutting) wood for the woodpile as well as removing the dock and boat lift at both Ed's cabin, and Jim's parents cabin.

PRE-TRIP PLANNING (OR LACK THEREOF...)
I was intending on doing all my packing, and being ready to leave early Saturday morning. The week prior, I had both Monday and Tuesday off. I worked Wednesday, and had training Thursday and Friday. I allotted Tuesday for packing, and even got an early start on Monday evening when I got a few of my hunting things gathered from the laundry room. I took the things I needed out of my "hunting clothes storage bin" and set them aside.

Tuesday, I got my guns out from their hidden location. (I am, after all, a father of five. As such, I have no choice but to make sure my guns are both safe and "invisible".) I took down my ammo boxes from their hiding spot (in a different location), I got out the outboard motor & gas can, my life jacket, decoys, and my new field bag. The problem arose when I realized that I was not leaving for another five days, and did not want to leave all these things (especially the guns) in my car. I created some "staging areas" for my gear. One in the laundry room, one in the basement family room, one in the garage, and one in my car. Tuesday afternoon I got a call from my supervisor. A Night shift had a dispatcher had called in sick, and (since I worked day shift 0700-1500) he asked if I would come in early and work the second half of the sick dispatcher's shift (0300-0700). Now that I had most of my gear out (spread all over the place), and having to get up at 0200 for work, I decided to cut my losses and finish packing the rest of things Friday night. (After all, I did have MOST of my stuff out already.)

Wednesday I worked from 0300-1500. I was exhausted, and went to bed early, as I had to get up early the next day to pick up the "Command Post" and take it to training. So, because of that schedule, Wednesday night was a bust. Thursday I had to leave our house by 0645. After training, I was invited to stop up and see the MSP Airport Police Department's PSAP. By the time I got home that night it was about 2030 hours. Thursday night was a bust. Friday I had to leave our house by 0645 to again bring the "Command Post" to training. By the time training was done, I had the Command Post packed back up and put away, and I was heading home. It was 1815 hours. I had called Ed to check in with him and see how things were going, and if there were any last minute things he forgot or needed, when I drove past the Post Office. It was then that I realized I had not yet got my State or Federal Duck stamps (a license requirement). I told Ed what had happened, and I quickly pulled into the Post Office hoping they would be open. The lobby was open, but the window was not. I was very upset. Without that Federal stamp, I could not legally hunt. I checked at the "package pickup window" that was open for another hour, and the employee behind the window told me not to worry, that the sales window would be open "tomorrow" (Saturday) from 0900-1300. I returned home, finished gathering up the last of my things, and (knowing I could not leave until at least 0830 hours, I went to bed.

The next morning, I started packing the car said goodbye to my family, and headed north. I had a couple of stops I knew I had to make, so I got my state stamp from the local hardware store. I found out that the local post office also had Saturday hours, and was there ten minutes before they opened. I got my federal stamp, got a quick haircut, and dropped off some clothes at my in-laws house for Ben. It was now about 9:30 am. I had planned to get to the cabin at about noon, but it was looking more like 1 pm now. When I had gotten about a third of the way up, I realized I forgot one important item for all duck-hunters, and for anyone taking docks in and out of the water... MY HIP-BOOTS! I was too far to turn around now, so I decided to stop on the way up and find the cheapest pair I could find. I stopped at the Cabella's store in Rogers, MN and found a pair for $30.00. Of course there were none to be found on the sales floor, so I had to "try" and find a salesperson. It was a Saturday morning (duck opener) at Cabella's... I'll leave it to your imagination how easy it was to find someone able to help me. When I finally did find someone, I asked for the boots I wanted in my size. He said he would be right back with my boots, and disappeared into a back storage room. After a LONG time (watching three other employees enter and exit with product) my employee finally came back out carrying a box. He told me they were out of my size, but he brought the next size down out for me to try. I do wear shoes of each size, so I gave them a try. The fit was OK. I took the boots, grabbed more shotgun shells and headed out. The remainder of the trip was uneventful. I had made some recordings of my favorite XM radio show (The Ron & Fez Show) to listen to on the trip up, so I turned that on, and went into "auto-pilot" mode. Including my errands and stopping at Cabella's - I still arrived at the cabin at about 1pm.

This year we had a new member of our hunting party. Bob (Ed's Father-in-law) joined us. He is a pretty quiet guy, but when he does open up, the stories he tells (Navy during the Vietnam War, etc) were very fun to listen to! I truly enjoyed having him there!

AT THE CABIN DAY 1
When I arrived - Ed, Bob, and John (Ed's dad) were already at the cabin. I unpacked, and loaded my outboard onto Ed's second boat, and we took the boat to the water. The outboard started up, and I drove it slightly down the lake from the cabin and back again. Confident it would run in the morning, I beached the boat, and we prepared to get started on the "Seasonal Chores" of getting the dock, boat lift, and John's boat in for the season. After doing this for the past "umpteen" years, we have a pretty good system down, and within a couple of hours the work was done.

With the work at Ed's cabin being done, Ed helped me set up a target to check the accuracy of a Marlin .22 cal rifle I was given by my father-in-law. After putting about 50 rounds thru the rifle, and getting some pretty good accuracy from 50 yards, I was satisfied, and cleaned up.

By this time, Jim (Ed's old neighbor and good friend) and Chris (Ed's brother in law) had arrived. Jim was not going to hunt this year because of a recent surgery to one of his shoulder, and damage to the other one, and an impending surgery for the second shoulder. Chris comes up to share dinner, drink beer, and visit with us in the evenings. He has a pretty good sense of humor, and I enjoy his stopping by.

This year, Ed had offered to purchase groceries, and we would pay him back. This was both a good and a bad idea. Let me explain. Ed is a unbelievably good cook, and Ed loves unbelievably good cuts of meat. Together these facts add up to - well - a diet killer!

I have not talked much about this, but I am down between 10 and 20 lbs. (at last time I looked), and at least 1 (and close to two) pants sizes smaller. I also had to (while at the cabin) put a new hole in my belt, as my pants were falling off! I was hoping that Ed's dinners were not going to work against my weight-loss... Sadly... They did...

Dinner that first night was extra large garlic and herb marinated steaks. You would not believe the size and quality of these cuts. Dinner was unbelievable.

IN THE FIELD DAY 2
The morning started at 4:45 am. We awoke to John getting up to use... well... the john. After he returned to bed, Ed noticed that there were headlights on at the public access. That meant we needed to get going ASAP. We all got dressed, and loaded up the boats. Ed forgot something back up at the cabin, so I offered to motor out to where we wanted to hunt (as it was still open). I pushed off, and tried to start the outboard - (tried is the key phrase here). After a lengthy attempt (with no success) to get my outboard running (even though I had it running the day before), Ed pulled up along side of me in his boat and I hitched a ride. Since the island was already occupied we went into the northern most bay and each set up on one side of a little point of the slew.

After setting up my decoys, and pulling my boat into the slew (quite a job when you are alone), I settled in and waited for dawn. I could frequently hear ducks flying over me, but it was still too dark to see.

As always, within 10 minutes of "legal hunting" (which is 30 minutes before sunrise) I could hear gunfire off in the distance. I had told myself that I was not going to shoot until my watch showed the "legal hunting" time AND Ed has taken his first shot. About five minutes after "legal hunting" I had two ducks fly straight at me. I could have, but did not take a shot, and they few right over my head. So much for waiting for Ed!

Later in the morning, I had an opportunity to do something I had never done before. I had a flock of 3 birds fly quickly across my field of view (from left to right). I shouldered my gun and fired my first round. A bird folded and dropped into the water. I ejected, and chambered another round (pump action shotgun), and fired a second time at another bird. That bird also folded and dropped into the water. I had downed two birds in one flock flying across my field of fire. I instantly spotted the second bird that went down, as it was flopping in the water, and was sure I had seen the first bird lying in the water. When I got out into the water, I searched and searched for the first bird that went down, but never could find it. (Ed later commended me on such great shots. He saw both of them splash in the water from where he was at too!) I took a hen Teal.

As the morning passed, I saw more birds flying that I have ever seen before. The number of birds in the flocks was also much higher. I would not be exaggerating if I said that there were flocks that contained 10-25 birds. I would say that I saw well over 400 birds during the whole weekend! Because the weekend was clear skies, the birds were flying high, preventing me from doing a lot of shooting.

Remember how I talked about the two trumpeter swans that landed in our decoys last year? This year we had one trumpeter fly over us. IT WAS GORGEOUS! Less than an hour later, a flock of four trumpeters few east of our location, but still very close.

Another unique aspect to this morning was the geese. We could hear them coming from what seemed like miles away. It sounded like there may have been a hundred of them. We heard them coming for several minutes (seemed like an hour) before I could actually see them. There were close to two dozen flying over us. They were too high for shooting, but low enough to enjoy!

About 0930 hours we decided to call it a morning and started packing up, and gathering up decoys. I tried, and succeeded in starting my outboard, and got it all the way back to the cabin. When we arrived at the cabin, there was a visitor waiting for us. A man in a camo jacket, and khaki pants came down the hill from the cabin and met up with us at the lake shore. He was the DNR's Conservation officer for the area. We made introductions, and made some small talk for a couple of minutes, but then he decided to get down to business. He started out by asking for licenses. I always carry my license and my ID with me. I provided him all needed documents (minus a signature across my federal stamp). I told him (the truth) that I had just gotten the stamp on the way up the night before, and stuck it in my field bag (so I would not forget it in the morning.) He was understanding, and asked me to sign it in front of him (which I did) while he looked over the rest of my license. He then turned to Ed and Bob, and did the same thing (Ed too had not signed his Federal stamp yet.) When he finished checking all documents, he checked our PFD's and then asked us to uncase our guns, and he proceeded to check them out. Mine was first. He checked that there were no rounds in the chamber. I offered him a couple of shells to check the limiter plug. He said he did not need them and pulled out a fancy little do-hickey that he was able to test the magazine for the limiter. He then moved over to Ed and Bob checking the same. By this time I started cleaning up my boat. He walked by the boat and started to "peek" into my field bag. I offered to open it all the way up for him. He said it would not be necessary. He checked my shells (in a box on the seat) for being non-toxic, checked my decoy bag, and poked in and around the decoys a little. I helped him out by picking up the decoys on the boat floor and setting them on the seat so he could see under and around all of them, and he could easily see the floor of the boat. We checked out just fine - we had no violations (except forgetting to sign our federal stamps). He stuck around a few more minutes just visiting, then wished us luck, head back to his truck and went on his way. All in all, it was a very positive experience, and I (as a responsible hunter) was glad to see him, and happy to have him working on wildlife conservation in the area. It's guys like him that keep unethical hunters at bay. Kudos to this officer!

The remainder of the day was spent doing the other miscellaneous things we do each year. We did go to Jim's parents place about 30 minutes away, and pulled in docks at his parents place. We did this in record time thanks to the help of Jim's brother-in-law.

Ed and I went out squirrel hunting. We decided to take different roads. I took the "lake road" and he went into the woods. I made it about three quarters of the way down the path, sat down in some brush (waiting for squirrels to show up) and fell asleep. I was awoken to hearing shots fired off in the distance. I took my time and leisurely walked back to the cabin (empty handed). I beat Ed back, and sat waiting for him. Not long after, Ed returned with three squirrels (two greys and a black). We took off into the woods and dressed them.

Dinner that first night was an eye (and stomach) bulging gourmet stuffed pork chops. I honestly have NEVER seen anything like them! They turned out perfect!

IN THE FIELD DAY 3
We awoke and prepared to go out to the field. By the time we made it to the lake we could see that there was no other hunters on the lake (just the way I like it!), so we had our choice of spots. After loading all our equipment into the boats, we headed out. Again this morning I had troubles with my outboard, and had to "hitch" a ride with Ed and Bob.

Being the only hunters on the lake, we decided to "spread out" just a bit. Ed and Bob wanted to go back into the bay, so I took the west point of the island. They dropped me off, I set my decoys, and rowed to the far north end of the island. I hauled my boat into the reeds (the water was so low this year, it felt like I was leaving my boat in the water, even though it was completely beached), and made my way around to the west point of the island. When I arrived, the "usual" place to sit seemed so far back from the water, that I could actually walk along the dry part of the lake bed to gain a much better vantage point. I found an almost perfect log to lay against, and I nodded off for a while. When I awoke, I noticed that it was getting close to legal shooting time, so I moved into my hunting location, and waited.

As I sat in the dark of pre-dawn, I noticed some movement out in the water. I was able to tell that some sort of animal was swimming back and forth through the water and the reeds. As it got brighter and brighter out, I was able to notice that there were several of these little animals in the water. There was one point where I could see at least 4 of them at the same time. These little critters swam back and forth, disappeared under the water, and then reappeared a little further down their route. Often, they would climb up on the far end of the log I was sitting on. (A downed tree that I was sitting on. The root and trunk on shore, and the top stuck out into the water.) I was sure that they were "baby" beavers. They had the same shape, and movements, only much, much smaller.

The morning was off to a great start! Less than 5 minutes before "legal shooting", two ducks landed about 20 yards north of my decoys, and I watched them swimming around. They then turned and started coming in closer. When they were about 15 yards off my decoys (and closing) six more circled once, came back around, and landed with the other two, making a flock of 8 birds just past my decoys! I sat as still as a corpse. I waited and watched and they were all actively swimming around the group, slowly making their way towards my decoys. I had a "line in the sand" chosen where I was going to make my move. I honestly thought I could get away with at least 2 if not three birds out of this flock! I'd have my limit minutes after legal shooting!

I made one fatal mistake this morning. Remember me saying I sat as still as a corpse? That was my mistake. I did not try to slowly shoulder my gun or even try to slowly get into a shooting position. I was so intent on watching the ducks, and "willing" them to come my way that I did not even pay attention to the fact that my gun was laying across my lap, no where close to being ready to shoot.

So, as I sat watching the ducks, deciding when and how I would get the best shot(s) off, and not even thinking about the gun. I was frightened by the startling sound of several shotgun blasts to my right (north) of where I was sitting. They were loud (as if pointed towards my direction) and instinctively (like a reflex) I looked that direction. I saw nothing. I knew in my head that Ed and Bob were shooting at ducks near them. As I quickly turned back to my flock. I noticed that they were already off, and flying away from me. I did not down one bird. As I took my first two shots, the ducks had enough distance (their starting point was further away than I would have liked) and time (between looking away for that second and a half and, not having shouldered my gun earlier) on me that I did not down even one bird. I did not even bother taking a third shot.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank "Mr. Itchy trigger finger" (Ed - (grin)) for not waiting another 60 seconds before shooting. If he had waited, I would have filled my limit and had to go back to the cabin by 7am. Instead, I got to stay out in the field and continue hunting. You da man Ed! (snicker)

Not long after I had a pair of wood ducks fly past me (right to left), and I did drop one. (Later determined to be a beautiful drake!).

I also put another bird in the water. This was a frustrating situation. I had two or three ducks fly towards me. I took my first shot, downing a duck. After watching the splash in my peripheral vision, I shot at a second, and missed. The first bird got back up and started swimming around the south side of the island. I got out my binoculars and saw it was a bufflehead. I climbed over some trees and shrubs, and took another shot, wanting to kill the duck. I saw my pellets hit all around the duck. I knew I hit it, but it was just too far away to make an effective kill shot. The duck made several attempts to fly, but as it was wounded, it could not get up off the water. Feeling bad, and not wanting an injured duck in the water, I hiked back to my boat. I rowed out, and around the island, trying to catch up with the duck. By the time I got the boat around to where I last saw it, the duck was no where to be found. I continued rowing in and out, and then around the whole island (hoping it was just ahead of me, and I would catch up to it) checking the water surface and the reeds for a carcass, or the live duck hunkered down somewhere, but I never saw the duck again. I really hated that. But I did feel like I did my best to not loose that duck. I rowed back, grabbed my woodie (wood duck), returned the boat to it's hiding spot, and sat back down to continue hunting.

The rest of the morning was spent watching ducks (although not as many as yesterday, but still a fair number of them) fly over, and around me (All were much higher than I could shoot at), and the "beavers" that turned out to be muskrats (now that I could see them in the light of the day). They had a lodge under the fallen tree I was sitting on, because they would approach the shoreline where the tree met the waterline, and would disappear under the log. Then, several minutes (sometimes as many as 10) a little head would poke out of the water just past the stump, and swim away. This went on for the whole time I was in the field. My guess is that they were gathering food or material for their den (for the winter). Once I took a shot, they would disappear for several minutes, but would then return. Their presence made the passing time between flocks enjoyable!

I noticed Ed and Bob across the lake starting to pack up, so I did the same. After getting the decoys packed up, I started to try and get my outboard started again. After numerous attempts, I finally got it started and headed back. Ed and Bob were 2 minutes behind me motoring across the lake when my outboard died again. I was unable to restart it before Ed reached me, so I grabbed on, and he hauled me back. Just before we reached the shore, I had Ed let go of my boat, so I could work on the motor. I hopped out of the boat, and (while standing stable on the ground) used more torque to pull on the recoil cord. I got the motor running. I left it to idle for several minutes. Things seemed to be going well, so I hopped into the boat, and headed down the lake. I wanted to get the motor up to full operational temperatures. About 100 yards down the lake, the motor died. As I tried to start it again, the recoil cord (original vintage 1955) broke off in my hands. GAME OVER. I had to row back, and completely give up on the motor.

Much of the remainder of the late morning and early afternoon was spent replenishing the wood pile. Ed felled (I think) about 4 trees, cut them up into sections about 10-20 feet long, and I hauled them back to the cabin with the ATV. Then after getting a sufficient pile of timber, we went back and started cutting the 10-20 foot sections down to the 12-18 inch sections that fit in the fire pit. On a positive note; This was the first year I really did not get any significant debris in my eyes. (There are a few people reading this that can attest to my dislike for getting anything in, and my even worse phobia about getting anything that is in my eye, back out...)

It was now approaching the time I had to leave. I still had over an hour left, but I needed to start packing, and any other last minute things. I started by packing up my stuff from inside the cabin. I created a pile of my things outside at the top of steps (on the deck). I started packing up my guns, and Ed asked me to join him one more time down the lake road looking for squirrel or grouse. How could I resist? We grabbed Jake (Ed's dog) and headed out down the road. That was a great walk. We did not say much, but that's how it is sometimes with friends as close as Ed and I. Sometimes just walking the trail with an old friend is better than if we were chatting up a storm. At the end of the trail we sat on a log, visited a bit, and shared some beef jerky. It was not too long before we decided to head back. The trip back was just as pleasant as the trip out. We did not hear or see any squirrel or grouse on this walk, but spending time with my old friend was what made this unsuccessful hunt a great one!

Bob's wife had sent along two home made pies. One apple, one pumpkin. All weekend long we were talking about the pies, deciding when would be the best time to "dig in". The first afternoon, we decided that after dinner the first night would be the best time to partake in the home baked goodness. Well, if you have read this far, you know that by the time we had our garlic marinated steaks of "gigantic proportions", none of us were able to eat another bite (and with full tummies and tired bodies, we all went to bed early). On the second day, we again decided to wait till after dinner. Dinner being the "eye (and stomach) bulging gourmet stuffed pork chops", I do not think it is necessary for me to tell you that we did not learn from our prior mistake. Well, after hunting, wood chopping, and hunting again, it was decided (as I was leaving) that now would be a perfect time to cut into the pies. We all agreed, and we sat around the deck having home-made apple and pumpkin pies. I had the apple, and it was fantastic!

HEADING OUT
I packed up my belongings, said my goodbyes, and headed down the road. For those of you who do not know. I drive a "hail totaled" 1994 Ford Escort. As of the time I am writing this entry it has 180,000 miles on it. Overall, the car is holding together. I do not want to get rid of it because a.) it's paid for and b.) great gas milage. (On this trip I got 40mpg (I usually get about 33 in my everyday driving). Anyway, the front suspension is shot. The struts are dead, and one of the strut supports is broken. I also have one leaf spring in the back that is cracked/broken. This makes for a... well.. a "bumpy" ride. I have to take it very slow over humps, bumps, and potholes. The road to Ed's cabin is "rural", and filled with humps, bumps, and holes. I have to take my time driving on the rural road - at least until I get to the dirt road. Just as I rounded the corner and started driving away from the lake towards the dirt road, a whitetail doe turned, looked up at me for a brief second, her white tail raised up and then she took off, running down the road for about 20 yards, and then disappeared into the brush on the side of the road. What a beautiful site to see as I drove away.

It was the perfect ending to a great trip.

Duck Hunting 2005 (incomplete)

Duck Hunting

Sept 30-Oct 3 2005

This was by far, my most successful hunting trip to date. We again made the trip to the Hudak Cabin. This year (because of some changes made by the DNR) the season has changed and this weekend was the season opener.

Very out of the ordinary, I arrived much earlier than Ed did. I was at the cabin by 2pm and spent some time visiting with John and Jan. After some visiting, Jan left, and John and I went to do some grocery shopping. By the time we finished, and got the groceries put away, I decided to go do some grouse / squirrel hunting.

I walked along the trail at the top of the ridge along the lake. It was a nice walk * quiet and peaceful. At the turn around (at the end of the trail) I decided to sit down against some trees and hopefully hear some squirrels. I nodded off for several minutes, and was awoken by a shrill sound of some sort of animal. I sat still for another (about) 15 minutes waiting to see what was making the noise. It was moving from one area to another. I then noticed a very large dark colored bird flying around. I noticed a very bright red crest on its head and black and white banding on its face. It was a larger bird. I later found out (with the help of John) that what I was seeing was a pileated woodpecker.

After enjoying the woodpecker for a while, it finally got tired of entertaining me, and flew away. I then started walking back towards the cabin. When I got about three-quarters of the way back, I started hearing some squirrels off to the south of me. I started up the main road through the woods and broke off onto the trail to (what I believe is) Deer Stand #1. The squirrel kept chattering away at me from a little farther away. I'd move a few feet closer and the squirrel would chatter at me again, but from what sounded like a little further away. I was now just about at the stand when the squirrel made it's way to the front side of the tree. I took my shot, and bagged the squirrel. This was (to me) a sign of things to come, and felt good about how the rest of the weekend was going to go. I retrieved my squirrel and headed back to the cabin.

Ed was about 30 minutes away by the time I arrived, and when he arrived we unpacked him, had dinner, and caught up.

Didn't hunt first morning * too busy * chopped wood and worked all day. Jim arrived * Drove the Thompson Trail in the afternoon * saw nothing.

Sunday morning woke at 0500 * heard boats in the water, and saw people already in field. Saw lots of ducks, I downed a ringneck with one shot - we shot six, crippled one * landed in bay * rowed out to it * shot * landed in other bay * rowed to it, and lost it. Hoped for 7 but came in with 6. For sure 1 of 6 was mine, but I suspect at least one more (grin).

Jim heckled other hunters by accident.

Pulled in dock and lift. Went grouse hunting on ridge. Jake flushed out a grouse. Had bead on it in the tree * looked odd to me * more tall and thin * looked partridge like * I suspected sharptail grouse * Later found out prob ruffled grouse per John.

Monday morning * no one out * we had the lake to ourselves. Ed got a couple more ringnecks, and right infront of me (from out of nowhere) popped a Drake Wooduck. I put a bead on it just as it jumped up and started flying away. 1 shot dropped the duck. It was a beautiful bird, and Ed Recommended mounting it.

Bird total for Ed and I for the two mornings * 9

After eating we went and walked the ridge one more time. (Looking for that grouse)

Rest of day spent getting Jim's docks in. Went to Reed's sporting goods (bought pen I am writing this down with), and picked up some nice steaks for dinner.